1. Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend as the ROK head delegate the Ministerial Segment of the 71st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 28-29.

o The 71st session under the theme “Balancing the Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development: From Integration to Implementation” will feature various events, including a ministerial-level roundtable.

- Despite economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, poverty has not been solved yet in the region, and there is a newly-emerging issue of harm that environmental pollution and climate change cause to the poor. Against this backdrop, the upcoming session of ESCAP will focus its discussion on ways to achieve sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region through an integrated approach to economy, society and environment.

2. In his keynote address, Deputy Minister Lee will stress the Asia-Pacific region’s leading role and importance in achieving the international community’s sustainable development, and share the ROK government’s policies related to sustainable development, including the “Three-Year Plan for Economic Innovation” and the “second Five-Year Plan for Green Growth.” He will also express the ROK government’s willingness to continue to cooperate in achieving sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

3. Deputy Minister Lee will also hold a bilateral meeting with ESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar and discuss ways for the ROK and ESCAP to work together.

4. On May 28, there will be an opening ceremony of an ESCAP accessibility center for persons with disabilities, to which the ROK government provided support. Deputy Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony.

o In his congratulatory remarks, Deputy Minister Lee will give an overview of various ROK-led projects to improve the rights of disabled people in developing countries. He will also express the ROK government’s willingness to contribute to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.


*unofficial translation